“Pen I need to know if Jane is okay, please.” Her breathing
was getting rapid and shallow.

“Okay honey, please try to relax” her cell phone buzzed and
she glanced at it quickly. “Emily is on her way okay Jayje….”

Closing her eyes JJ tried to focus on her breathing.  It was difficult because she hadn’t managed
to lock down her pain at all.

Emily made her way to JJ’s room after making her apologies
to Maura.  Garcia’s text had been brief
and terse.  “She needs you”

That’s all she needed to know.

Showing her ID to the officer posted outside her door, she
quickly walked in.

“Emily” JJ’s voice was soft and tired.

“Hey baby, you’re awake.
How are you feeling?” Emily quickly approached JJ’s bed, nodding to
Garcia.

“I’m fine Em, how is Jane?” her hesitation must have shown
because she asked again more insistently.

“Emily please I need to know.”

“Okay Jennifer, but I need you to relax and I need you to
press that button you’re refusing to press.”

“Emily no, please…I don’t want to sleep” JJ’s voice was
petulant

“Fine but you have to promise, soon as I’m done…pain meds.”
She said firmly, her brooking no argument.

“Fine…now tell me please.”

“Yes tell us please, how is my Italian stud muffin?” Garcia
asked gently.

She told them, JJ’s sobs were heart wrenching and painful.
“Jennifer look at me,” Emily said, “you cannot blame yourself do you hear me,”
she said firmly “It’s who she is.  Jane
did exactly what I would have done JJ.
Exactly what you did once she was hurt. JJ honey its not your fault”
Emily knew Jennifer couldn’t bring herself to believe it yet, so as she leaned
in to give her a kiss, she pressed the button on the dispenser.  The morphine’s effect was almost
immediate.  She saw the realization in
JJ’s eyes as they flared angrily before she fell into her drug induced sleep.

“She gonna kill you for doing that Princess” Garcia said
somberly.

“I know Garcia but at least she will have gotten some rest.
Come on, we need to get everyone together.”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After clearing it with the hospital administrator, Hotch had
the team assigned in pairs to take turns grabbing some sleep throughout the day
in an empty hospital room on the fourth floor, just down the hall from JJ.  None of them wanted to leave.  They knew Rodriguez’ targets were there.